The medieval bridge in the city of Ourense , the community of Galicia , the Kingdom of Spain , also called the Roman Bridge , the Old Bridge or the High Bridge , is a striking landmark and a symbol of the ancient city depicted on its coat of arms [1] .
| Medieval bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Application area | pedestrian |
| Crosses | Migno River |
| Location | Ourense |
| Design | |
| Type of construction | arched |
| Material | a rock |
| Number of flights | 7 |
| Arch Height Above Water | 41 meters |
| Exploitation | |
| Opening | 1st century A.D. |
The first stone bridge over the Migno River was erected by the Romans in the era of Emperor Augustus or, according to other sources, Emperor Trajan . The central of the eleven spans of the bridge had a width of 48 meters and an arch height of 38 meters, which made it possible to use the bridge even during floods [2] .
In 1230, the bridge was rebuilt by the local bishop of Lorenzo on a Roman basis at the expense of funds provided by Fernando III of Castile , King of Galicia. At that time, it was considered the largest bridge in Spain [3] . In 1499, the central arch of the bridge collapsed. Only in 1679 the bridge was rebuilt in the same place, 373 meters long, consisting of seven spans, with a central arch 43 meters wide and 41 meters high above the water level. Until 1816, it was the only bridge in Ourense.
In 1961, the medieval bridge in Ourense was declared a national historical monument. Since 1989, the bridge has become exclusively pedestrian.
Notes
- ↑ MONUMENTOS DE ORENSE
- ↑ Ford, Richard. A Handbook for Travelers in Spain . - J. Murray, 1878. - P. 250.
- ↑ Thomas, Hugh. Eduardo Barreiros and the Recovery of Spain . - Yale University Press, 1 January 2009. - P. 26. - ISBN 978-0-300-14246-4 .